Fishing - Crown Reserve Licences

Overview

New Brunswick's Crown Reserve system is a limited entry fishery, whereby angling opportunities on prime salmon and brook trout angling waters are allocated on a rod-per-day basis. There are three types of Crown Reserves: Regular, Daily and Live Release.

Eligibility

Residents who are eligible to obtain a resident salmon or angling licence and whose principal place of residence is within New Brunswick. Salmon stretches require the resident to be the holder of a Class 7, 8, 16 or 17 Licence in addition to their Crown Reserve Licence. Trout stretches require the resident to be the holder of a Class 7, 8, 9, 10, 16 or 17 Licence in addition to their Crown Reserve Licence.

REGULAR CROWN RESERVE: There are currently 20 Regular Crown Reserves in the Miramichi and Restigouche River drainages. Reserves (stretches) are assigned for 48-hour periods. (Exception: The Patapedia stretch is valid for 3 calendar days) The application period for Regular Crown Reserve is from February to early March each year with draw results available by the end of March.

UNCLAIMED REGULAR CROWN RESERVE STRETCHES - stretch dates not taken in the draw are made available for booking on a first-come first-served basis. Bookings can be made online at the Energy and Resource Development (ERD) web site or by contacting a designated ERD office.

"DAILY" and "LIVE RELEASE" Crown Reserves: There are currently 7 Salmon Daily Crown Reserves, 8 Brook Trout Daily Crown Reserves and 6 Live Release Crown Reserves in the Miramichi and Restigouche drainages. Daily and Live Release Crown Reserves are assigned for 24-hour periods to anglers who obtain the stretch by being successful in a draw or by reserving an unclaimed stretch. (Exception: The Lower Patapedia salmon Daily Crown Reserve is assigned for 2 calendar days.) Anglers are limited to angling two days per month on any specific stretch of Daily or Live Release Crown Reserve that is obtained through the draw and those periods shall not be consecutive over month ends. There are no restrictions in terms of how many times anglers may book unclaimed Daily or Live Release stretches not taken in the draw.

Description

To apply to the Regular Crown Reserve draw submit your application online at the department web site. You may also apply by mailing a paper copy of the application form and payment to the Fish and Wildlife office or by contacting any local Department office. Successful party chiefs will be notified by mail or e-mail.

DAILY AND LIVE RELEASE DRAWS:
These draws are held on week days during the Daily and Live Release Crown Reserve angling season that extends from June 1 to Sept. 15. Applications can be submitted online at the department web site or by contacting the appropriate designated department office. Refer to Related Links for a listing of designated offices and the Crown Reserve stretches which they are responsible for.

Draws are held between 8:30 am and 11:00 on week days one week in advance of the stretch angling date. Draws for angling dates that occur on weekends are held on Monday of the week immediately preceding the angling date. Successful applicants are contacted by e-mail or by phone by the department after 11:15 am the day of the draw. Immediate stretch payment is required.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Stretch descriptions
A description of each Crown Reserve stretch including its location, accessibility, accommodations, and applicable angling regulations is available under Related Links. Each stretch description document also has its own Directions and Angling Pools maps.

Firewood
Firewood is not provided. It is recommended that only kiln dried firewood be brought to a Crown Reserve stretch due to the risk of spreading invasive insects and disease. If using firewood that has not been kiln dried, buy it locally (as close to your destination as possible), burn it all on site and do not bring any remaining firewood home. Information on best practices and regulations related to the movement of firewood is available at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website under related links.

Salmon conservation measures
For information on salmon conservation measures visit the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada website for the latest updates under related links.